Bills look ahead to Sunday vs. Titans
By: John Kucko
Updated: October 17, 2012
The Bills are back home after their two game trip out West when they host the Titans on Sunday. Below are comments from the team, beginning with head coach Chan Gailey:
On the records of teams across the
AFC:
Looks like the NFL has achieved what they set out to do.
You hope that there is parity and people have to fight their way to the top.
That is what you try to do and it looks like it has worked
out.
On being on top of the AFC East being a form of
motivation:
I think it is too early in the year to get bent out of
shape about it. You cannot fall too far behind, as we all know. At the same
time, when you are sitting there even it does help. You know that you are in
charge of your own destiny. When you can be in charge of your own destiny that
is all you can ask for in this business.
On why the team has struggled against the
run:
I think we have had two games that it was bad. I think
New England and San Francisco we did not play the run well. Last week we had the
quarterback rush for 66 (yards) and a fake punt for 25 (yards) so I think those
are statistic (anomalies). We held the rest of those guys to under 120 yards.
The tailback position got 90. I do not think it is as big of an issue--it was for
two weeks--do not get me wrong it was. But I think we got a little of it back.
Before that it was not that bad of an issue.
On if the status of OG Kraig Urbik and DT Spencer
Johnson is any clearer:
No. They are going to be out there and do something
today but we still have to see how they do and how they recover for tomorrow.
All of that. It is not any clearer, but at least they will be out there doing
something today.
On how T Cordy Glenn is coming
along:
OK. We will not have him this week, but we think we have
a real good chance for Houston.
On how he will rotate CB Ron Brooks into
practice:
He will do most of the scout team stuff right now, just
to get him back into playing shape. It is just like Shawne (Merriman). Shawne
will take a lot of the scout team stuff, just to get him back in playing shape.
He is probably a lot further along than obviously Ron would be because he is a
veteran player. We have to work those two guys back into playing
shape.
On if a player who spends his week on the scout team
could end up being active on Sunday:
(Merriman) will take reps. Do not get me wrong. He will
take reps with the regular defense. It is not like he is just going to be (on
the scout team).
On if he anticipates DE Shawne Merriman being active
on Sunday:
Probably, but do not make me 100-percent on
that.
On if Merriman's experience gives him an
edge:
Oh yeah. As long as he is in playing shape and
everything goes well this week and he gets back into the flow of things, he is
probably going to be right there on Sunday afternoon giving us some
help.
On Titans RB Chris
Johnson:
He scares you. Every time he touches the ball he scares
you. You can still see that electric speed and electric quickness that he has.
Yes he has not had as many yards and the statistics are down, but I am telling
you defensive coaches hold their breath every time he touches
it.
On the downfield passing
game:
First of all, we have been more in ball control type
throwing, picking and choosing times to maybe throw it down the field. We have
not set it up, so some of that is design. We are running the ball better this
year. We are running it for more yards and running it better so we have not had
to rely on the pass as much. I think as we get balance back into our offense, we
are going to take some shots. We have to. We have to keep the defense honest,
but we have to hit the shots when we take them, too. Right now we have not hit
as many as we did last year and that is hurting us. All of that goes together,
you have to take the shots and you have to hit them. When you hit the shots, it
gives you confidence to throw some more. We will work back into that as time
goes on, but as of late we have been more ball control, hit the guys and let
them run for it rather than throwing the ball down the
field.
On defense's coming up and daring the Bills to beat
them deep:
That may be the case. As time goes on we have to prove
that we can throw it deep and make plays deep. If we do not they will continue
to do that. I see that they will squat at times on us. We see that and we know
we have to take advantage of it when they do that. We have not done it yet.
On QB Ryan Fitzpatrick's
accuracy:
It is not a lot different than it was last year. I do
not see it being a lot different. We hit some passes early. We hit when people
were playing us a bit different last year than they are playing us this year. So
it is a totally different animal this year than it was last year in some
respects, but I do not see (Fitzpatrick) being a lot different than he was last
year. We just have not thrown the ball down the field and taken as many chances
this year. We are not having to.
On having a rotation at the second cornerback
spot:
Right now Terrence (McGee) is not going to practice
today but he will be out there tomorrow. Terrence is the guy. He and Aaron
(Williams) have kind of shared that duty out there and as time goes on we will
just see how that unfolds. If it does not work, we will just see who is next up.
It could be Leo (Leodis McKelvin), it could be Justin (Rogers, I do not know who
it could be.
On why CB Aaron Williams has
struggled:
It is just like anything else. It is just like any other
position on the field, once you do a couple things then you gain confidence in
it. He just needs to keep playing and keep getting confidence in himself. He has
ability. We all have seen that and I think he is going to be just fine. That is
not one of the biggest problems that we have. If it becomes a bigger problem
then we have to make an adjustment.
On where the Titans have improved in the last couple
of games:
They are not giving up the deep ball. They gave up one
against Pittsburgh and then they kind of shut that down. They are playing good
run defense. The quarterback is managing the game extremely well. (Matt
Hasselbeck's) first game two weeks ago when they went to Minnesota, they played
so poorly. Then last week they played a lot better. It was his second game. He
needs time with that crew. You could tell that he was rusty and that they were
not on the same page in that first game.
On the difference in the Titans' play-calling when QB
Jake Locker is in compared to current QB Matt
Hasselbeck:
Sure, they do not have as many boots, nakeds and
roll-outs. Things like that. That is Locker's deal. Hasselbeck stays in the
pocket. That is what he does.
On if there is anything different about the team this
week coming off of a win:
I have not sensed anything different and to be honest
with you I do not want to. I still want them to be hungry. I still want them to
be mad. We need to have the mindset that we have to go out and have something to
prove every week. Just because you won one ball game and got back to .500 that
is nothing. We are nowhere right now. We have a lot of work ahead of us.
On if QB Tarvaris Jackson can get reps during the bye
week:
(Laughs) Yeah, in our one practice that we get. Because
of the new CBA they get four days off, so we get one practice next week. It is
hard during the season to get somebody acclimated to the whole
thing.
On being amazed they are tied for first after three
bad losses:
Yeah, and to be honest with you, it was all the second
half of those three losses, too. We have had three bad halves of football; bad,
bad halves of football. You cannot do that and not be a very good team. I think
if we can eliminate our bad times we will be alright, but right now we have to
get the mindset that we cannot have those let downs, like we had in those three
games.
QB Ryan
Fitzpatrick
On some of the issues the passing game is
facing:
It has just been very inconsistent all year. A lot of
that falls on me and my play. I did not and have not started the year the way I
wanted to. I think starting out with the three interception game, having another
four interception game--there has to be a happy medium there in terms of not
going out there and trying to throw touchdowns on every play, but not being too
conservative. I think right now we are still trying to find ourselves in the
passing game. A lot of that is me just playing more consistent. That is where we
are at right now. We are 3-3, we have shown that we can run the ball, we can run
the ball with more guys in the box than we have blockers just because of how
talented we are in the backfield and I think as an offense we are still trying
to figure ourselves out in terms of being able to balance the run and the pass.
On teams daring him to throw
deep:
The last two weeks, especially I think, we have not been
real effective. I think in weeks before that I think consistency was an issue.
The turnovers were an issue and I think the passing game, but we were able to
effectively throw the ball, get yards and do all of that. The last few games we
have not been able to. It is just something that we have to evaluate. It is
something that we have to get better at. Chan (Gailey) is a guy that is able to
adjust and adapt depending on what the defense is doing and what our strengths
and weaknesses are. It is just something we have to get better
at.
On stopping safeties from creeping up by making some
throws down the field:
I think the last few weeks that has been the thing. We
are a team that we like that matchup of a safety trying to tackle our backs.
That is something we do not try to shy away from because of how effective they
have shown that they can be with that. That being said, we have to be more
effective in the passing game and we really have not the last few
weeks.
On the mood around the
team:
This is a big game for us. To get to 4-3 before the bye,
I think that is huge. I think it has been a weird season so fair in terms of we
are 3-3 and that is not where we wanted to be, but the three games that we lost
have felt like we are a much worse team than 3-3. To be here and also to have
the other teams be 3-3 in the AFC East, everybody kind of knotted up--all of a
sudden you start looking at it and we have ten games left to go. We have a real
shot at this thing. We have to come out and play.
On if he has been falling back into bad habits and it
has resulted in poor accuracy:
I do not know if that is a ton of it. There was a ton
that was made of the mechanics and all the different things. It is true in terms
of I am not always the prettiest thrower in terms of the way I look, in terms of
throwing off balance and all of that. I have tried to correct some of that stuff
and maybe limit some of that. It happens in the NFL because there are guys
rushing around you. A lot of being a quarterback is about decision making and
timing. Those are the biggest things in being effective as a quarterback. In
terms of the flaws, my mechanics and those types of things, those are something
that is always going to be there especially with my throwing motion. The
footwork was something we really focused on, but I have not started the way that
I wanted to start and unfortunately it has been multiple games. Not just one bad
game here or there. It is something that I have to evaluate. The only way I know
how to correct it is to continue to work in practice. Continue to get
comfortable with my guys and make those
throws.
On if the problems have been a result of timing and
decision making:
I am just saying that there are a lot of different
things that go into it. When I am ineffective throwing the ball, you cannot
always say 'It is his mechanics, it is this or it is that.' I have made that
pass (to Fred Jackson in overtime) 100 times with bad mechanics. So that one
unfortunately was just a missed pass. I think there are a lot of things that go
into it. I just have to continue to work at them and get
better.
On how important it is to hit a deep
pass:
It is really important. (T.J. Graham) is a guy that has
a tremendous amount of speed and can really take the top off of a defense. It is
important for us. It is important to get a couple of those balls down the field.
It is something that has not happened a lot, but we have to go into a game where
we have a certain amount of shots that we go into every game with. Sometimes you
get them, sometimes you do not in terms of the coverages and being able to throw
them. When I do make those throws I have to be able to hit
them.
On what he sees from the Titans
defense:
The biggest thing that jumps out is their front four.
They do not do a lot of blitzing. Those guys create a lot of pressure though.
Very fast, aggressive and great edge rushers just in terms of making you move in
the pocket a little bit and getting pressure on a quarterback. That is stuff
they have been really effective with this year. They have given up some big
plays. Really it is a defense that is the Tampa-two style stuff, the bend but do
not break and make you earn your yards down the field. That is what they want to
be and when they play effectively that is what they do. They make you sustain
drives seven, eight, 12 or whatever plays it is. For us, it is about going out
there and being consistent on a drive. Converting on third
downs.
On the differences between this year's matchup and
last year's game versus the Titans:
I think Cortland Finnegan was a great player. There are
some different people in there now than maybe were in there last year. A lot of
the same people, same scheme and the one thing you know when you play them is
they are going to be able to create pressure with their front four by the way
that they fly around and play up there. That is something that we will have to
manage.
RB Fred Jackson
On how he made it out of the last game and how he is
feeling now:
I made it out of the game good. No set backs or anything
like that. I was able to come out of the brace and all went well. I feel good
now, just typical football soreness. I'm excited about that and hopefully can
continue to improve this week.
On if he feels like he has had a slow
start:
I'm not making the plays that I did for us at the
beginning. Some of it has to do with the injury but for us to be as successful
as we want to be I have to go out there and start making some more plays for us.
We've gotten other guys that have stepped up and made plays for us. Any time
that you have that it definitely takes pressure off of you but you know I want
to be out there making plays for my team so I am going to do everything that I
can.
WR Donald Jones
On his thoughts about the
offense:
The biggest key is really just making the plays. We can
always say we have to come out here, practice, work hard and things like but
game situations are a lot different. We have to make the plays on both ends from
the quarterback to the receivers.
On the offense not utilizing the passing game to move
downfield:
As a receiver it is always a concern when you are not
getting the ball down the field, or you're not getting the ball period. It is
always a concern, but every offense is going to have its struggles at some point
in the season. Hopefully we can get it
together.
On what he feels the issues are with the passing
game:
Like I said, it is just making the plays. Everybody just
has to make the plays .The linemen have to make the blocks, everybody has to
block and we have to catch it when it is thrown. We just haven't been doing it.
DE Mario
Williams
On what DE Shawne Merriman's return means for the
defense:
We are very excited to have him back. He brings a
different dimension to the defensive line. Looking forward to having him out
there on the field.
On if he is shocked Tennessee is last in rushing
despite having RB Chris Johnson:
I really cannot say. He is obviously a heck of a back
and he is definitely a challenge to defenses. We have to be on our P's and Q's
this week.
On why the team has been unable to stop the run so
far:
The biggest thing is us just being gap sound. Staying in
our gaps and finishing the play. Not peaking or getting out of our
position.
On if he is referring to a lack of
discipline:
I would not say that. I just think we are
over-aggressive and everybody is just trying to make plays, getting out of their
position earlier than they should. Just trying to get after
it.
On if the coaches said the gap control was better
last week:
It was better last week. We still have a lot of
improvement to do. We have to tackle better. We have to be smart about being
aggressive. Getting out there and whenever you do make that decision you have to
make the play. You cannot get out of the gap, do not make the play, leave a hole
and then the great backs find that whole. We have to be fundamentally sound with
our gap responsibility.
On how the mood around the team has
improved:
For us it is still the same. It is all about the grind.
You cannot sit here, say we got a win and the mood changes. There is still a
sense of urgency amongst us. Knowing that we have to get better and play better.
That is definitely how we are taking it.
On how jumbled up everybody is in the
AFC:
Any Sunday you can win or you can lose. It is all about
the approach you take. Going out there making it happen. It is showing that any
team can win on any particular Sunday and if you are not out there doing what
you are supposed to do and being fundamentally sound then you can come up on the
short end.
On having a four-way tie for first in the AFC East
being a good thing:
At the end of the day regardless of what happened in the
past, our fate is still in our hands. We have to realize that, go out and
execute and put W's on the board.
On what Merriman adds to the
defense:
He obviously is a great guy whether it is run or pass.
He can get after it. With him coming back and he looks like he is still
physically capable of doing that. I think the biggest thing for us with the
timing of the nicks and injuries, having him out there with a physical presence
will be an addition in the positive manner for us. Having him, we definitely
should have a better look.
On what his reaction was when Merriman was
released:
I did not even know it. We were in meetings then and I
did not even see him. We did not even really mention it until we got out to the
practice and everybody was like 'Where is Shawne at?' It was kind of quiet, but
he is back and that is the most important
thing.
On if his personality can add something to the
room:
He is definitely hungry. I know that. I think we
definitely need all of the hunger we can get at this point to help us win. I am
looking forward to it.
On if he agreed with the decision to let Merriman go
originally:
That is not my place. Regardless of what happens it is
football. People come and go regardless, so decisions are made and you cannot do
anything about that. You cannot harp on it.
On if he sees any added emphasis on the game this
weekend:
Every game has added emphasis with the position we are
in and our fate being in our hands. Every game is key regardless of if it is
home or away. You have to win on the road, so that is one thing. We definitely
have to be able to tighten it up and go get W's on the
road.
On his thoughts of RB Chris
Johnson:
He is Chris Johnson. He can make every play. Whenever he
runs the ball, it is never a finished play. Even if you have one guy or two guys
hitting him. He is a great back that can make it happen regardless of what it
looks like at the initial point of attack.
DE Shawne Merriman
On how he feels to be
back:
I'm excited just being back in the building with these
guys not having to text them every week after the games just seeing how everyone
is doing. I'm definitely glad and happy to be back in the
building.
On if he feels surprised on being
back:
No not really I mean it's the NFL that is just how
things go. I knew I could still play and I could contribute to the game a lot.
I'm just happy to even get that call back and because you never know how things
are going to go and you have to be ready when it's
time.
On if the Bills were checking in with
him:
Yeah, I was still being able to talk to the players a
whole lot and just the people in general that you talk to around the building
that not necessarily on the team or part of the coaching staff that you build a
relationship with people in the building and keeping in contact with them was
key.
On where he spent his time after leaving the
Bills:
I spent some time down in Miami hence the sunburn that I
got from laying on the beach after my work out. Then I went back to San Diego
and spent a lot there and still have been around t he game. Talked a little bit
about the game and still kind of was involved in the
game.
On what he thinks is the best way to make the most of
this second opportunity:
Basically do what the coaches need me to do and do what
this team needs me to do. Obviously Mark (Anderson) went down for a little bit.
It is one of those things when guys get hurt in the NFL and you have to be ready
to play.
On if he feels good about picking up where he left
off with the scheme:
Yeah, it has become second nature. I went through it
just about the whole training camp and got very comfortable especially towards
the end of training camp with the scheme and how things work. It became a little
bit more natural for me.
On saying that he is not a defensive
end:
Of I have played linebacker my whole entire life but
when you are a football player you are a football player. You can put your hand
in the dirt, you can stand up, and obviously if these guys if they didn't think
I could play defensive end then they wouldn't have brought me back. I am happy
to not only contribute, but kind of just pick up where I left off and do what
they need me to do.
On if it is tough for him to leave and come
back:
Yeah it was a little different for me because I have
always been a player in this league when I was healthy of course. To go through
that transition when you are waiting for a guy to go down not just here, but all
across the league or based on team needs. Everybody that I talked to during my
time off, no one thought that I could not play anymore. It was more of team
needs and who do they have available to come in and play right now and that type
thing. I am just excited to come back.
On his thoughts about watching the struggle on
defense:
Like I said even though you aren't playing you are a fan
of the game. But when you know you can still play and contribute and play it is
a little bit tougher to sit back and watch the game. Good thing that I don't
have sit back and watch anymore, I can go out there and play. I think the guys
bounced back great the character that is in this locker room and just the
resilience of these guys in this locker room is unmatched and I think it is not
better time to continue on with the season we are
having.
DT Kyle
Williams
On his thoughts about Titans RB Chris
Johnson:
We have to get everybody to the ball because a lot of
the times the first guy in there is not tackling this guy by himself. We have to
get on and off the blocks and get 11 guys to the ball... A lot of the time when
you are going in there full speed you are going to miss and that is when he has
a lot of big gains and you miss tackles.
On if he thinks it will be though for DE Shawne
Merriman to get back after being out for two
months:
I think that everybody has a period there where they had
to get back and get acclimated. Hopefully he can do that through practice, but
he has been doing this awhile and he'll pick it back up. I'm not too concerned
about that.
On having Merriman
back:
It is good. I mean it is always nice to have a guy that
can help you, that has been here, fits in well in the room and that knows what
we are trying to do. We've got a couple guys hurt and we needed to bring some
guys in and glad to have him back.
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